Is the 1971 Volkswagen Super Beetle Cool or Crap? | Beetle Diaries Ep. 11
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- čas přidán 30. 06. 2024
- ( www.TFLcar.com ) On this episode of the Beetle Diaries, Mike breaks down Felix into 7 categories to find out if the Super Beetle is cool, or if it's crap.
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I just bought a 1971 super beetle today!!
Maybe you bought my old car. Congrats.
I am super jealous of you
How's it going
You still enjoying it?
You're so lucky 😭 congrats!!
The crap aspects add character to the car and therefore make it cool.
What's your opinion is crap about it?
Kinda like how the old top gear guys (aka the grand tour) consider alfas and lancias cool and humanlike, because they're flawed. At least the engineering in most italian cars were flawed in the same era of the bug
Can’t believe we’re having this discussion.......it’s a all time classic world wide!!!! OF COARSE ITS COOLLLLL😎
It's always going to be a cool car.
Because Boomers are, if nothing else, stupid. It is no accident that the "peace-love" narcissistic arrogant while stupid generation chose the KDF 60 as their symbol. They literally chose the fascist car as their generation's symbol!!!
It's the only car I've owned that I'd like to own again.
Why don't you buy a Beetle then?
Same here... I had a ‘71 super back in the early 80’s, with the auto stick. Fun car to drive!
The Beetle is definitely cool. 0-60 at sea level when new ideas 17-18 second la which is poor today but at the time was on par with its foreign competition. It’s features were too, and it was better than most of its completion in fuel economy and a super beetle like this was actually at the top of its completion in terms of handling. To compare a 45-50 year old economy car to anything modern is unfair. The beetle still did well in those categories in 71. And it was always rated tops in quality. Where it pales against its competition was in its limited space because of its 1930s body shape.
You’ve got to take these in context to what else was as available at the time. Think about it- the fastest corvette at the time would get slaughtered in a quarter mile by a 4 cylinder Subaru wrx. That doesn’t mean the vette is slow. But technology improves things.
The bug is still a really fun car that one can drive daily today.
Michael Converse what has better high ground clearance a 1971 beetle or a 1970 Porsche 911 t
I owned 4 vw's so far. 1 was a mustard yellow super beetle. My first bug was a 1965 beetle. Always loved them all had the unique smell inside. And the sound of the engi e was also pretty neat. Just loved the idea of the bugs
I remember the smell! The Super Beetle smelled differently from the pre-Super models.
Ah, memories! I had a 72 standard beetle which was pretty peppy for an economy car at that time. It was bright red and sported a "Formula V" racing stripe and an aftermarket "zoom tube" muffler. It was actually pretty quick from 0 - 30 due to the gearing, despite it being only 60 hp. The only option (aside from the stripe) was an A.M. radio. The cloth seats were very comfortable, even in the heat without AC. It was a fun, fun car that I owned for 4 years until our first child was born, necessitating a larger car.
I own a 1972 beetle and 1974 super beetle love them both never giving them up.
Awwwww. Felix is way cool. Heidi
Couldn't agree more!!! :¬D
How many people have named their bugs "Herbie"?
Bucket seats, dual exhaust and 4 on the floor, how could you possibly want more,magnificent car, great brakes, awesome traction and so much fun to drive.
In 92, watched a friend pull a 73 out of the wreckers for 50 bucks. Sold it 6 months later for 10 k. Easiest car to restore
cool story bro. nobody was paying 10K for bugs in '92. cool story though.
I loved my 1965 VW, learned how to drive a stick and drove at all through college.
the car is WAY cool. If thats all the speed you have it sounds like the engine needs a rebuild. If the heater chanels and heater boxes are still intact and hooked up properly, the heat should all but roast you........mine does. As for features, you are comparing a car that is 46 years old to modern cars. Compare it to cars of its day for price and so forth. PS the Beetle is STILL the number one selling car of all time.
Negative, Ghost Rider. Both the Golf and Corolla have sold more worldwide that the Beetle's 23.5 million units.
In a previous episode, they said that the original engine had been replaced with a low-compression unit from Brazil, if I recall correctly. There's nothing wrong with the engine's power -- it's just lower-powered than even the U.S. market's low-powered unit. That explains their lower-than-normal power.
And I don't know how many VW Golfs there are out there, but I do know that the Toyota Corrolla is the highest-selling vehicle of all time -- it's rapidly approaching 45 million units, if it hasn't surpassed that already.
Ok, Corolla sold more than Beetle. But Corolla is made when the population of earth was much bigger. The Beetle hasn't got so many new things according to the years its produced. So if VW make newer, cooler, carosserie and by the time (I mean here after moving to Mexiko) bigger motor then it could be still manufactured. Golf has also changed a lot by the years. The newest Golf looks totally different like the first Golf series. Just look the evolving.
If you adjust for population inflation, beetle sold over 300, 000, 000. !!!
Put that in your Japanese pipe and smoke it.
@@jamesbeaman6337 both the Golf and Corolla are several different versions with the same name so there's no real comparison.
I purchased my 1971 Super Beetle in Germany while in the Army for a little over $1800. Drove it all over Europe for the next year and a half and had it shipped back to the USA at the end of my deployment. Had it for another 6 years. It never let me down and I wish I had one today!
I've had 2 beetles and they were fun to drive around town and it was fun to put fancy paint jobs and the after market stuff you can do with this car and always get lots of thumbs up from other drivers.
I vote for Cool all around, I owned 2 of these back in the day and nothing since has come even close to the fun factor.
Me too...a 71 and a 74
Your going about this in the wrong way- A 1600 duel port engine was WAY cool after driving a 1200, the
TWO speed wipers are GREAT after you spend a few years with the older one speed wipers and the added space under the bonnet of the super is best appreciated after fitting luggage around torsion bars!
A 47 year old car based on 80 year old technology. Some would call it patina. I owned a 62 convertible and a 65 sedan both new. At the time the VW was the counterculture way to make a statement against the 2 ton 14 mpg dinosaurs on the road at the time. When the Japanese came into the market with 4 doors, a heater that works, and enough horsepower to pass on the interstate the VW beetle faded away. The super beetle was an attempt to bolster sales until the VW rabbit could be pushed into the market. Happy Motoring in das kleine wunder.
Had 75 scirocco, sprinty car, and it did reverse doughnuts on 3 wheels 😀
Yet the Rabbit (now the Golf) is unremarkable. The Japanese small cars that the beetle couldn't compete with are also unremarkable. Nobody pays them any mind on the road. Driving a vintage VW makes everyone smile and ask questions. in the end, none of these could compete with the vintage beetle.
The heater can be replaced with a modern heater, which works quite well. Same with the windshield wiper nozzle and _'pump.'_ The stereo system (including speakers) can also be easily replaced. As for the engine, you can drop a 914 engine and transmission, which greatly improve performance.
This was my first car back in highschool, and now im thinking of getting another. I miss it!
I put 287,000 on my '71 SuperBeetle, trading it in after 14 years. It was comfortable, efficient, and cheap to maintain since I did the oil changes myself most of the time. It would cruise all day at 75 mph on Interstates, which was enough back then to go with the general flow. It had great traction in snow. When the heater did finally get warm, it was very effective. Something about the car's "feel" and handling was very appealing, and it was more like wearing the car rather than riding in the car. Even with its low power, it was just fun to drive. The little one speaker radio was not bad, considering the speaker size.
In the performace category you picked a bad contender . With the stock 305 in Big Green, they par up.
I am the proud owner of a 79 Super Beetle Convertible. Absolutely a cool car! It's amazing how many people just love to see it on the road.
Very reliable with minimal maintenance. Mine has the Bosch fuel injected engine. It is a primitive system but works quit well. Parts can be difficult to find though.
I live in a beach city and there is nothing like driving down Pacific Coast Highway with the top down.
It's more about going slow enough to enjoy the scenery.
If I want to go fast I have a Mini for that.
I had a 73 back in 75-78 (traded it in on a new VW Scirocco). Good economy car, urban/suburban commuter. Passive heating system not good when it was really cold. Fun and OK in snow and ice- especially with winter tires. Easy to install a cassette player and add rear speakers to the rear deck for tunes. Always loved the vent Windows! Handbrake turns on ice were great fun on deserted parking lots for donuts.
Dudes, get some touch up paint for those bare spots on your car!
Of course its cool...there is no other like it outhere. I had one VW1303 S-73 in the eighties...And I am gonna get one again...LOVE IT....
You just made me recognize the value that i have possessing that car!( btw its the same exact pearl white color)! unfortunately i havent given much care to her for the past year, but the two videos i watched really got me emotional. thank you guys! CoolEST car!
I had both and I love the super beetle the best it handles better and stops faster in a straight line.
Good job with the video and content. I have to say, if anyone out there is watching this video for educational information in trying to decide between purchasing a old VW Beetle or a newer economy car to use as a daily driver, I would encourage them to go for the the newer economy car for a reason not mentioned in the video ... safety. I am a huge air cooled VW fan and I agree that an old VW is a fun and affordable way to get involved in classic cars and I would encourage anyone looking for an antique car to use as a “Sunday driver” to take a hard look as old VWs because they are (largely) cheap to buy and easy to live with. As a daily driver, especially for a younger driver with less driving experience (not that it really matters) these cars lack air bags, antilock brakes, crumple zones, and roll over protection that we can take for granted on all cars made in the past decade. Whatever car you purchase, enjoy it and drive it responsibly.. As James Dean said, the life you save might be mine!
My '75 Super goes zero to sixty... eventually. It's my 3 season daily and I LUV it! Definitely groovy. ✌💟🙂
Your views mirror my own. I had a 1971 SuperBeetle Formula 1, and loved it, even though going over the mountains of New York slowed it way down going up the mountain,, It was great coming down.
I LOVE your videos guys! I've wanted a bug since I was a kid & will one day have one of my own. The Corolla was the best selling car of all times...I had 2 of them & loved them! The simpleness of the mechanics of the Beetle, makes it for a great car to learn on. I grew in the the 80's under the hood of many cars that my brothers had. Enjoy guys! I'm a little jealous LOL
You dont need a 10 min video to know that a vw beetle is a cool car... The mere fact that it is still being restored after 2k years is a living testament that this is a supercool creation. 🤨
why show the rear suspension when talking about the front struts? 3:31
A couple of other good and bad characteristics. I owned this same car in college way back when in California. On the good side: car handled pretty good for vehicles of that vintage; though it has drum brakes all the way around they are huge and given the weight the car would stop fast; by dropping the back seat, and given the height of the interior, I had enough room to move all my personal stuff between home and school every year in one trip; and this car, because of its rear engine would travel farther in snow without chains than most other cars.
On the bad side of the ledger: car doesn't have enough power to climb many freeway grades without downshifting into 3rd which is an issue in California; driving this car on the highway when it is windy is exhausting to the the least along with being buffeted by big rigs. Also heating and defrosting were pretty marginal, especially defrosting.
I loved mine and it never left me stranded but sold it as soon as I could afford something with more power after graduation.
I had 12 of them .my first was new 66.I purchased another1970 new,and several used ones .Drove from Toronto to Florida ,pedal to the metal all the way.Cool cars wish I still have one.
When pointing out the cargo space, you neglected to mention the area behind the rear seat.
Also, people back in the day were not as rotund as as they are today. However, the rear seat passengers had little room for the legs and feet. But the car was created for a family of too 1938-sized people, and two children. Even so, we could cram five teenagers in a Bug and everyone had a blast.
Thank you for the very precise review of Volkswagen 1302 Superbettle! I have one here in the Philippines Cebu City. Right-now she is pretty amazing sedan car.
It is serving its purpose! Awesome car because for me it is a car for all seasons and generations!
Very nice video! I own 4 beetles myself a 1962, 1970, 1973 an a 2001
I've built plenty of engines and improved their performance dramatically. But nothing improved with so little upgrades and exceeding 100% in the performance of the engine like a VW. As far as heat, most people never had heater hoses properly installed. When done properly you'd smell your shoes burning 😳 With a conservative build you can easily do a low 13 second 1/4 mile to possibly a high 12 second run. Some bugs do in the 9's. Top speed in my very conservative build was 133 mph. Not too shabby for a People's Car 😉 Oh, Yeah, how many were made again 🤔
Hope that you upgraded the Braking System to match the new turn of speed.
I'm late commenting on this but i have to say, I live in Europe and most standard compact cars have similar storage space (like small hatchbacks that can fit two suitcases) and in terms of horsepower are not much better. You have to give them credit keeping in mind these were European cars with the mentality of efficiency at that time and they still managed to sell so well and are to this day well renowned.
It's sure cooler than a tesla will be after almost a half century. This younger generation consumes so much, there won't be anything left to enjoy from their youth. I can't see anyone restoring a 2010 Ford taurus! Edit: oh God. I guess I found the answer down in the comments! Good luck with the "make your beetle a tesla" thing! Trying to make something into something it isn't.... Sounds about right for 2018!
My '71 Beetle is 100% Electric - powered by Tesla. It can be done easily without welding or drilling the original car. From the outside, nobody would know its secrets............ Now future-proofed for the next 50 years when governments clamp-down on ICE vehicles. I have had four years of turning the key with ultimate reliability, no fuel smells, no grimy hands. These days, I find myself making excuses - just to get behind the wheel and go somewhere, because it's that good.
interor utility is great if you choose the right passenger, my recommendation is a tiny dancer (m/f/d, to your taste). I had one of these (car + fitting passenger) from age 18 to 21, lots of fun.
Drove thre of these buggies during my years of college and university...they are definitely way cool!!
It's pretty good for a car whose basic design dates from the 30s Kraft durch Freude Wagen. It should be noted that the British deserve credit for saving VW as it was in the British Zone of Occupation after the war.
I have a 1965 type1 with a 2332 turbo fuel injected street car, 231rwhp, freaking thing is a hoot when I pull up next to mustangs, they just have to see what’s under my rear hood, I can drag the rear bumper if I want to, love it!
You said just because the motor is easy to work on and basic it shouldn't be slow look at big green it has a 350 that makes 400hp. Well that's not fair because that is a crate motor that has performance in mind. The original motor in big green was a 305 and slow. Which was rated I believe at 185hp back when it was new.
Just remember that is a 1971 car that anyone could afford. Second, is not in mint condition and you have not completed the maintenance on it. If you finished the maintenance, the heat will work, your windshield wiper fluid will work. Also as to space, your are used to a truck, this is a 2000 lbs car. Maintenance is key on these cars, I had 14 of them so far. Great job on the show.
Handling: Dry roads - fair. Wet roads - depending on the condition of the tires, either oversteer or spinning 360's because it is balanced like a hammer when tossed because all of the engine is BEHIND the rear axle. Bridges with ice are fun. Windy days are fun. When bad weather (high winds, snow and more rain) comes you learn to put HEAVY STUFF in the frunk so you can steer.
Been there, done that in the classic Beetle and the Corvair (both gens).
That said, I LOVE THESE CARS. Once you learn their eccentricities, they can be a blast!
A true comment about the Beetle. However, I went electric, and this placed the Beetle as 50/50 balance. Battery Pack in the front has given +30kgs additional load. No twitch on the steering anymore at all. Mine is a '71 Super Beetle.
Probably one of the best cars in the snow it's a good surprise that I had
I think potential should be a category. With the aftermarket for these cars, performance, style, features can all improve
i have been around VW's since the 60's i also use to work in a shop where they sold parts for them ,i had a 62 kombi for awhile i currently dont drive a VW but would love to own one again
I disagree with your "crap" rating for Utility. You have to take into account the car's size -- and for its size it scores very high in the Utility category. The frunk is huge in comparison to the trunk of any other car from 1971 that is that size -- most of your subcompact non-hatchbacks in the early '70s had maybe 9 cubic-feet of trunk space, at best. And you have that storage space behind the back seat, above the engine -- that adds easily another 2 or 3 cubic feet to the total storage space. For its tiny little sub-compact size, I think it has far more storage space than it should, and should therefore score "cool" in the Utility rating... Just my opinion, though.
I laughed at the wiper technology so loud, I forgot I'm at work oops 🤭
This video reminded me of Family Guy with all the cutaways. 😂
Very cool my first car paid nine hundred in 1975 only had it five years
There are compromises with any car. Beetles were everywhere when I was a school kid in the 70s. We had three Beetles, two consecutively, when I was a kid. The Beetle is the coolest compact of them all.
No question that it is cool, not to be confused with safe, comfortable, or fast! Lol With that said I love my '72 with all it's quirks and short comings...
I bought a '71 Super Beetle in 1972 with 2,000 miles on it. I put 100,000 miles on it. It was a good solid car especially compared to equivalent cars of the day. It was superb in the snow. If you took decent care of it, it took care of you. It was definitely not crap. It was a superb little car for its day.
Can add racks to the roof and the trunk to add more Utility to it. You also omitted the rear parcel shelf. It’s cool either way you look at it.
It’s cool! Well; look at it. You wouldn’t buy a car like this for the practicality or the fastness anyway...
The motor. Pure crap by modern standards. But don’t forget that sound of a classic Beatle - it makes it all worth it😉
That goes for the other Beatles too, by the way✌️🎼🎸
I am highly thinking about buying a super for a daily driver. What are you thoughts on this and what should I spend for something that is not perfect but in great shape?
Stying? And by the way, my '73 SB is very cool...
I have owned five VW Beetles, from 1968-1972. Four of them were regular Beetles, and they were wonderful. I would love to have another one. One of them was a 1972 Super Beetle, and I had nothing but trouble with it. The front suspension and steering on Super Beetles really is crap. It doesn't work well, mine had a shimmy in it, despite every part being replaced. It is very weak compared to the regular Beetle. The standard Beetle is a tank, the Super Beetle leaves a lot to be desired, all because of the front end. If you want to know what a real Beetle is like, try a standard one. The difference is night and day.
The spare tire was over pressurized. It had a cut off so that the tire would not deflate. Mom has a ‘55 that lasted over 25 years. Sold it to a friend and he took the engine, modified it and used it in a dune buggy for another 10+ years.
Trade economy for performance/utility and get yourself a roof rack, dual carbs and a good distributor. Best of all worlds. If it wasn’t a super I’d say Baja it too but...
Nicholas Arceri definitely recommend the roof rack
Some things are greater than the sum of their parts...the Beetle is one of them. Any economy car that can drive down a street and cause people to stop what they're doing and smile at you can't help but be cool, especially in this day and age when things that make people smile seem in such short supply.
Chris Freemesser that’s why I love driving mine. Makes people look and smile
Cool. Every time you stop to fuel up people ask (1974 Beetle) all sorts of questions.
My parents were married in May 1970 and later that year this is the car they bought, even the same color as in the video. My father already had one so when I was young both their cars were beetles. In 1987 I was 15 learning to drive it with less than 50k miles! Other people who want classic cars like mustangs and Corvettes, these kind of macho bragger people kind of cars but if I could have any car in the world that’s the car I like to have, the other people can have those other flashy cars that ain’t me give me this
Been a ‘72 super beetle owner since 2000 and it will always be cool, as long as you don’t mind Air cooled AC and warming up the car 10 min before driving anywhere. My first car, and I’ll never sell her regardless 😉
I’ve had my Superbug since 1983 and I’m still driving and loving it. So, I must be cool! And there is no doubt in my mid where the car sits.
Anything more than fetching groceries and the grandparents would use the Chev sedan.
My first car was a 1970 super beetle and learned how to drive a stick paid 100.00 for it
A cool car if you live in Alaska. In winter if the Beetle slides off the road, you just push it back on the road and off you go.
$4k you lucked out big time!! I have the same bug and have spent a fortune repairing everything, rebuilt engine, upholstery, interior coconut insulation replacement, door panels, rebuild fresh air fan(have to remove tank to get it out), fuel fill and vent lines, fuel lines, rubber steering boots, wheel cylinder...... can’t wait to drive the damn thing!!!!!!!! It gets a 10 for cool!!!
My dad has a 1958 bug and bug are just amazing.
good video. the beetle is a flip phone in a smart phone world. no one bought a beetle for options. it was a pure drivers car, no frills just substance. if you want performance by a mercedes.
in the Netherlands you can find a used Volkswagen beetle for +/- $2500
back in the day it had plenty of power and was very cool. Had a 1971 1302S and would say it was the best beetle i have owned. Had a couple of horses and had to travel 3k up a hilly and winding shingle road few times a week carrying saddles and feed and never let me down on performance or handling and actually got a speeding ticket on a motorway. Others i have owned like a 1961 beetle my first car and then couple of early split windows, 54, and 57.
I had to have a friend step on the brakes when changing a flat....the wheel turned along with the wrench due to no weight up front.
You failed to test, specifically for one specific category. Emotion!!!! In other words, how do people specifically feel when they see a Beetle driving around? What do they feel about the car? I'm totally certain that the vast majority will say it's nostalgic, cute, fun, and COOL!!!
So you have to add coolness to the vote of cool categories. So that's seven points to the Beetle! Because, let's face it, when you're that cool, you get a bonus point!! Specifically!
Actually the cool air cooled Volkswagen was the Type 3 which was available in Fastback and Wagon body styles. More storage space and better featured.
Old Vw cars where made to last,the old beetle is cute too...
That s why they sold so many,A car with character,basic & not much to go wrong...
Happy motoring 😘
crap is no word for such an iconic car . the ones who say that its a crap got real poor taste and very shallow understandings .
I had many beetles in my life.A very cool car and very reliable vehicle.I raised my kids in a beetle.
Don't forget, if you have 'The Idiots Guide To Working On Your Volkswagen' you could train a FREAKING CHIMP to fix ANY PROBLEM in this car (except maybe the struts).
You forgot to add for utility, the back seat back folds down for more storage. I have been driving my 74 Super Beetle for 30 years now. I think it is cool and so do other people. Never a derogatory comment although I hate people calling it "cute".
id take a beetle anytime of day, vw beetles are one of the coolest vehicles we see on the road
The 71 was my first car. Great video. Definitely cool, but I agree with the crap factor. I can't believe I drove it thousands of miles!
In theory, using the air of the spare tire to power the windshield washer may not sound like high tech today. Back when I bought my first new car, a 1973 VW super beetle, it was quite innovative, leave to the Germans to come up with a way to put stale air to good use. In practice, over all the years I owned and drove my Beetle, never, ever did I have a situation where I lost either squirting power or a full spare.
For today the Beetle is not a modern car. But for a years, when it was made, it was almost a perfect car. I spent my erly years in a few Beetles and for me that was a best one.
did you forget that you have an other cargo-space just behind the back seat? This car have TWO trunks.
Very awesome looking
I own a 2001 Volkswagen beetle and it's great...I payed 400$ and love driving it ...it's definitely a cool car ..
That one is okay, but I prefer the 61-66 or the 67, which is the latest one I would buy. The 70s models got junkie as production wound down.
The VW Beetle is the car of the 20th century. It has got to be cool, so I just bought one a week ago.
Cool in my book, of course my daily is a '69 beetle!
I love these bugs until the last bolts and screws :)
So I think its an absolutely lovely car.
But what could do it much more cooler?
- safety. Its absolutely not a safety car...
- 2 more doors. It would be nice to have a bit more space behing
-a little bit more powerful motor in order to go a bit faster.
A car that came out of the Porsche Stable cannot be bad. Take a look at how the Beetle can handle the bad weather. How many cars manufactured today - are resistant to hail damage? Probably none, because the gauge thickness of the metal on modern cars is only half that of a Beetle. Every Beetle made was under strict quality control, in the days - long before before Quality Control was widespread in Industry. It can be driven across a Desert, needs no water for engine cooling. No Timing Belt to break on you! Chop off the roof, the car won't mind! Try doing that with any modern car made today. A car with curves will always win over the majority of men too!! I bought my 1971 Superbug "as an impulse buy" from a car scrapyard - a burnt-out wreck. It was a labor of love to completely restore the Beetle. I am over 70, and the car has become part of the family for the last 17 years. Used daily, it has never let me down. Alpine white, and two-tone leather seats. Other than this, I've kept the car as 'original' as possible. There will always be people who say that these cars are crap. I cannot think of any other car that has such a large following.
i drove one all thru high school and it was as reliable as a canadian tire claw hammer